Above: Cynthia Leslie in 1974 (left) and an age-progressed image to 54, circa 2006 (right)


Above: Jackie Leslie in 1974 (left) and an age-progressed image to 52, circa 2006 (right)

Cynthia Ardina and Jackie Lynn Leslie

Last seen in Mesa, Arizona, on July 31, 1974

Vital statistics: Cynthia is a white female. She was born on February 1, 1959. Brown hair, hazel eyes. She wears eyeglasses and is unable to see without them. She has a mole on the outer side of her right armpit and her ears are pierced. Her nickname is "Cindy." She may not have had her eyeglasses with her. Was fifteen at the time. Jackie is a white female. She was born on February 15, 1961. Brown hair, blue eyes. She has a mole on her right cheekbone and her ears are pierced. Was thirteen at the time. Both were wearing summer shirts and jeans at the time.

Circumstances: They were last seen walking down a road in Mesa. They had recently moved to the area to be closer to a hospital, as the girls' father was terminally ill. They told their mother they were going to baby-sit, but were instead going to a party. Some say they arrived at the party, some say they did not. Classified as Non-Family Abductions.

Theories: This one is a hard case, at least to me. The precise details can't be agreed upon. I feel one significant part of the case is if they arrived at the party or not. To me that's an important decision. If they did, it seems to confirm to me that they were abducted or somehow met with foul play. This is because the plan to attend the party was not a cover - they actually went there. If one was to leave voluntarily, especially if one was underage, you would not tell anyone the truth. In fact, multiple stories might be needed to throw people off. I know their father was dying. Their mother said they would never leave him, but is that a true assessment? Could it be that the nearing loss of a loved one was so painful to bear that they simply could not stand it? Of course, if this was the case shame would be involved. They would think themselves cowardly, and would not want to contact home because of this. If they attended the party, chances are they simply wanted to go there. Now the possibility of this notion is several. One, someone murdered the two and disposed of their bodies in the desert. But why would this be? I know some killers attack for no reason, but a person like that would be unlikely to be hanging around in a small Arizona town. Could it be that there was a reason to avoid the boy they planned to meet, and he somehow contributed to their demise? I wonder if he has ever been questioned or suspected as a suspect. If not, I think he bears scrutiny. The other option is that they were abducted. Several sinister motives could be involved in this. Did someone have an obsession with the girls, and kidnapped them? Was it a plan to rape and/or murder the two, or sell them into prostitution? However, the lack of detail is so much that I feel, unless someone comes forward, this may be in the books forever.

If you have any information on the Leslies' wherebouts, please e-mail For The Lost at this address. Or you may contact the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office at 602-256-1087. All tips sent by e-mail will be kept confidential.


Information used to compile this case file comes from the following resources:
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
The Charley Project
The Doe Network
California Missing Persons Registry
NamUs National Missing Persons Data System

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